Past Significant Projects
Name Change
NATRE's change of name (from PCfRE) took place on January 1st 2007. Our new logo was in use from that date.
New website
The launch of NATRE's new website in June 2007 provided opportunities for supporting and resourcing members, and mechanisms for keeping them up-to-date with the key issues affecting teaching RE.
Westhill Trust Seminar Series, 2006/7
Two seminars to link classroom teachers and researchers took place in November 2006 and January 2007. RE and Philosophy (Norwich) and RE and Pedagogy (Birmingham) attracted some 70 attendees. Outcomes from these seminars will be fed into a range of NATRE and RE Today publications including REsource.
National Framework
Our consultancy and writing role with the National RE Framework (DfES, QCA, 2004) has enabled teachers' voices to be heard. Deborah Weston (Chair of NATRE) was the lead consultant for QCA's unit of work 2005/6. See: www.qca.org.uk.
SEN and RE
We are pleased to have been the agency by which BBC have made two special needs strands to their new secondary broadcasts 'Curriculum bites RE', one featuring some students' from Anne Krisman's school, another using a multi sensory approach to festivals. First broadcast in February 2005.
Christian artists working in schools. The Jerusalem Trust awarded grants to fund two projects in which Christian artists worked in schools with 16 - 19 year olds. Rhema Theatre worked with the RE and Drama departments at Keswisk School in Cumbria, and stained glass artist Cate Watkinson worked with the RE and Art Departments at Durham Johnston School. The details of the projects, with guidance for schools wishing to do similar things, was disseminated through RE Today publications.
Special needs in RE
We are pleased about the BBC's agreement to make new programming in this area as part of Curriculum Bites RE 2005. with a guide for teachers to accompany this developed by NATRE / RE Today.
Teachers of Faith: Representing Religions in the classroom
This is a project to develop authenticity and integrity in RE teaching through a multi faith teachers' symposium on 'what I want teachers of RE to know about my religion'. Financial support was provided from the St Luke's College Trust and the Spalding Trust. Published in 2004, this was distributed free to nearly 600 new entrants to the profession in 2004/5.
European Forum for Teachers of RE
NATRE supported conferences in Edinburgh in the summer 2001, in Finland in Summer 2004 and summer 2007. See: re-xs.ucsm.ac.uk/eftre.
Able, gifted and talented in RE
NATRE worked with QCA on challenging RE for more able, gifted and talented pupils. A 2-day training course on this topic ran successfully for over 300 RE specialists. Working with pupils was also promoted. G & T pupil days continue to be offered - contact NATRE for details.
ICT
After REFIT: RE from IT, NATRE's five year project to link RE and ICT teaching effectively, which culminated in a free CD-ROM for RE to all RE Today subscribers, NATRE is seeking to work with RE Today and Becta to promote more and better uses of ICT in RE. Also working with BBC on their 'digital curriculum' project, starting with KS2.
4-nations links
Links with Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, where RE associations have co-operative relations with NATRE continue, for example by participation in the recent NI conference on inter faith RE.
'Four Religions' day courses for teachers
This repeating course ran once or twice a year in each of four years, enabling NATRE members who are both faith practitioners in one of the four religions and RE professionals to share insights.
Assessment for learning in RE
This small project developed ideas and practice in AfL with a group of 6 teachers, exemplifying methods and standards for some excellent assessment activities and ideas. Generously funded by the St Gabriel's Trust, the project was published through the RE Today mailing.
Spirited Arts Publications
Funding has been forthcoming to enable the planned primary and secondary Spirited Arts publications to include 8 x A4 colour prints. These publications will form part of the Sept. 05 RE today mailing, edited by Rachel Barker.
Consultation
Our consultation role with broadcasters e.g. BBC, Channel Four Learning etc., continues. Collaboration on e.g. Taking Issue (1997-9), The Test of Time (2001), Curriculum Bites RE 11-14 and 14-16 (2003, 2005) Broadcast and for sale. These award winning series are at the front edge of curriculum development in broadcast RE.
Expert RE
NATRE provided support for a national network of Advanced Skills RE teachers and other classroom experts, including meeting to hone best practice and spread it wider. National meetings were held in June 2003, September 2004 and November 2005.
Assessing RE
Consultancy contribution to the NC Action website of examples of 8 level scaling in action for teachers from work based on 6 different religions. Live in 2004. NATRE has supported and provided training for 2000+ teachers on this topic in the last three years.
Assessment for Learning in RE
A new course on 'how to use assessment for learning in RE' for 2004-5, benefited over 400 teacher participants. Project for 2005 to 'road test' these ideas in primary and secondary classrooms.
Transition
A written product to address the need to improve transition at the transfer to secondary school was developed, and published through the RE Today subscription service.
RE and the Media
Participation in the national competition and award made by the Sandford St Martin Trust to reward excellence in the RE media. Awarded 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003. Winners include broadcasts, video products and ICT / CD-ROM materials.
Project on RE and thinking skills
This commenced with the Education Show 2001, with funds granted by the DFES through the Best Practice Research Scholarship scheme. Eight teachers worked on this for 7-14 year olds; it was completed in 2003.
RE for All 16-19
NATRE worked with many LAs and the Jerusalem Trust to provide day courses to enhance the quality and provision of RE for 16 - 19s. Working with up to 100 students at a time, these opportunities helped model good practice in this neglected of provision in RE.
Community Cohesion
This project involved work with 8 schools around Bradford, four 'white' and four with Muslim majorities. This exciting school twinning project brought pupils together, examining RE's contribution to attitudes of tolerance and respect. The project benefited from further funds granted from the DfES Innovations Unit in summer 2004.
Beginning Teachers
Conferences for Beginning Teachers were held in April 2001, and April 2003 for 'student reps' from all ITT institutions. A free opportunity for teachers of RE in training to participate in an inspirational residential RE conference. Supported by the Sandford St Martin Trust and the Dulverton Trust.
Faith in the Future
This project involved research into pupils' writing on religious and spiritual topics, with consultant Dr Rebecca Nye and a team of researchers. Curriculum development resources were published. There was a major focus on the implications of listening to children in RE, published and for sale as 'Listening to Children in Primary RE' and 'Listening to Children in Secondary RE'. Also on the web: www.natre.org.uk/db.
AS and A level teachers' conferences
Conferences supporting teachers in dealing with the new specifications and with contemporary theology, RS and key skills. Four lectures and five seminars in three days, plus supporting events. Brilliant teams of speakers have included Archbishop Rowan Williams, Dr Robert Beckford & Prof. John Hull.
RE for teachers with other specialisms
The 'TWOS' project was part of the Brunel University National RE Centre 'RE and School Effectiveness project, providing help and training to meet the needs of 'non specialist RE'.
Golden Jubilee
Participation and provision of a multi-religious team of facilitators in the Golden Jubilee Young People's Faith Forum at St James' Palace in June 2002.
RE in 14-19 vocational programmes
Materials for leisure and tourism, business and health and social care which are good RE and good Vocational Education were developed. This project was developed with Christian Aid and resulted in the publication ‘Global Learner' in 2002.
RE and Citizenship
This project developed classroom activities and resources from faith communities which are good RE and good Citizenship and resource RE teachers who want an open frontier with Citizenship. The outcomes were published in early 2002 in primary and secondary versions.
RE in EAZs
Professional development package to support RE in Education Action Zones and other situations of social need. Supported by the St Peter's Saltley Trust. Conference: November 2001.
The National RE Festival
This was NATRE's major celebratory project in RE for the late 90s, and attracted involvement from 14 000 schools, 9000 faith community groups and about 1.25 million children.
RE Futures
This seminar Series on Values, Communications, Achievement, Classroom and Culture. Exploring RE for the 21st Century was published as a reader, edited by Terence Copley. It was distributed free to new RE teachers over two years, and for sale.
Standards for subject leaders
Co-operation with TTA, CULRE and AREIAC on 'RE: standards for subject leaders' led to publication in 1999.
